Tensions are rising between Colombia and Ecuador after Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador of dropping a bomb near their shared border.

Petro shared images of an unexploded device that reportedly landed just 100 metres from a family home, calling for an urgent investigation. He suggested the bomb may have been unintentionally dropped from an aircraft during Ecuador’s military operations targeting criminal groups in the region.

Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, denied the claims, stating that all operations were conducted strictly within Ecuadorian territory and blaming Colombian-based criminal organizations for instability along the border.

Colombian authorities confirmed that bomb disposal teams safely deactivated the device, while residents described fear and panic following the incident.

The dispute highlights ongoing security challenges along the 586-kilometre border, where armed groups are involved in drug trafficking, illegal mining, and other criminal activities. The region is a key corridor, with an estimated 70% of cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru passing through Ecuador for export.

The situation has reignited diplomatic tensions between the two nations, raising concerns about cross-border security and military operations in one of South America’s most volatile regions.